CHEIKA NAMES EXTENDED QANTAS WALLABIES SQUAD

[travelling_gerry]

CHEIKA NAMES EXTENDED QANTAS WALLABIES SQUAD

7/2/2015




Michael Cheika has named his extended Qantas Wallabies Squad, ahead of The Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks on 18 July.


Michael Cheika has named his extended Qantas Wallabies Squad at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, ahead of The Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks on 18 July.

The 40-man squad, featuring a combination of youth and experience, will assemble this Sunday for a one-week camp on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, training out of Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Qantas Wallabies Head Coach Michael Cheika said: “The extended squad gives the new coaching staff a great opportunity to observe and test some new combinations.”

“Off the field, this group has been working very hard, I am very pleased for our new players entering the Wallabies environment.

“We are fortunate enough to see some experience enter the squad from both Super Rugby and overseas. It is important we get them connected to the Wallabies culture as soon as possible.”

“We are expecting a pretty physical week ahead in Caloundra, and we will look to shave down the squad closer to Test week when we arrive in Brisbane to take on the Springboks.”

Uncapped Wallabies Toby Smith, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Rory Arnold and Samu Kerevi are the latest additions to the Wallabies program, following a grueling two-week training program with the preliminary train-on squad in Brisbane.

Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau have been included in the squad under the foreign policy rule, while Waratahs and Exeter lock Dean Mumm returns to the Wallabies program for the first time since 2012.

Another returning Wallaby is Queensland Reds prop Greg Holmes. The 13-Test veteran has impressed throughout the 2015 Super Rugby season with fellow Reds front rowers James Hanson and James Slipper joining him in the squad.

Scott Higginbotham and Sam Carter return after missing the 2014 Spring Tour due to injury, while Waratahs skipper David Dennis gets an opportunity to press for Wallaby honours for the first time since November 2013, after being ruled out of last year’s international season with a knee injury.

Extended Qantas Wallabies Squad:

Rory Arnold (Brumbies)*
Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs)
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
Quade Cooper (Reds)
Dave Dennis (Waratahs)
James Hanson (Reds/Rebels)
Scott Fardy (Brumbies)
Tetera Faulkner (Force)
Israel Folau (Waratahs)
Bernard Foley (Waratahs)
Will Genia (Reds)
Matt Giteau (Toulon)
Scott Higginbotham (Rebels)
Greg Holmes (Reds)
Michael Hooper (Waratahs)
Rob Horne (Waratahs)
James Horwill (Reds)
Samu Kerevi (Reds)*
Sekope Kepu (Waratahs)
Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies)
Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies)
Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
Drew Mitchell (Toulon)
Wyclif Palu (Waratahs)
Ben McCalman (Force)
Sean McMahon (Rebels)
Dean Mumm (Waratahs)
Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs)*
Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs)
David Pocock (Brumbies)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs)
Scott Sio (Brumbies)
Rob Simmons (Reds)
Will Skelton (Waratahs)
James Slipper (Reds)
Toby Smith (Rebels)*
Henry Speight (Brumbies)
Matt Toomua (Brumbies)
Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
Nic White (Brumbies)

+ Wyclif PALU ( Waratahs ) left off the original list.

[jargan83]

Although David Pocock was above every other 7 this year I though Hodgo might have at least made the 40 man squad.

[MI5_Dog]

Well with that squad I don't see us getting out of the pool of death.
hell I'll be suprised if we beat the Argies in the RC.
or anyone really.

[PerthGirl]

Cheika is a fool for not picking Matt Hodgson

[choice]

Toby Smith, finish your career playing for the Wallabies. Should have crossed the ditch a lot earlier.

[yungfen]

Disappointing for our brave captain to miss out on the 40 man squad.... You are the man Hodgo....

[vulcan]

hodgo should at least made this squad only 2 of the 3 amigos and no druggy

[Alison]

Oh look, Dean Mumm is in the squad.

Sucks that Hodgo is missing. Sucks even more that Beale is in.

Only ray of light is no JOC. Must be coz he's injured

[pieter blackie]

Why would you have Horwill on the list he has only been an embarrassment and a disgrace in the last 12 months also he has showed no form what so ever Why not give someone a shot that is committed to the code the culture and has the respect for what Rugby Union stands for......

[Buddha Handy]

I guess we could be thankful to have 2 players when it could have been 1. Faulkner has had a pretty average season but Robinson and Alexander have been tried and tested so good to get rid of them.

I don't see how Mumm can justify selection. Coleman would have been better. Coleman is also better than Arnold.

[yungfen]

+1
Horwill is surely past the use by date and his discipline is way too poor to warrant a spot in the 40 man Squad, Experience is important but form and hunger should be more important.... no need to name who should have bene in his spot....

Why would you have Horwill on the list he has only been an embarrassment and a disgrace in the last 12 months also he has showed no form what so ever Why not give someone a shot that is committed to the code the culture and has the respect for what Rugby Union stands for......

[todd4]

Pocock and Hoo-Pah both have form on the board at international level, so I don't have a problem with that. I did think he would give one of the younger locks a go Jones or Coleman.

[Herbasimplex]

I think Coleman is a better all round lock than Arnold at the moment, so I think if chieka was making a choice between both of them Coleman should have made the squad. Jones can be very disappointed not making the squad, he's been great for the Rebels this season and not sure what else he can do to impress. He's probably thinking his shot is over and may lead him to chase the dollars in france when his current contract ends. Mumm has done nothing to justify his selection. The only reason I can think of Horwill being selected is that cheika might get a good 20 minutes out of him at the end of a match where his experience may count. If Cheika continues with the Tah locks then we will have some problems come lineout time.

Bit disappointed for the badger as well. I know he has had an average season with us, but he has some runs on the board with the wallabies and I think would have still contributed in the setup and been able to perform. His performances have been better than Tomane in gold for mind. Not sold on Naiyaravoro either. Sure he can run over the top of people but he is clueless in defence, a good example being cooper walking around him to score in the corner in round 18.

Disappointed for matt but not surprised.

[AndyS]

Some weird shlt in there, but can't say that was unexpected. Most important thing now should be them making it very clear that anyone not actively playing NRC won't be eligible for call-up into the squad...

[Happy]

So happy joc is not included